Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Board of Education met Oct. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Roll Call

Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 10:31 a.m.

Chair Isoye announced that the Board meeting was being audio-cast live over the internet and video recorded.

Chair Isoye asked the clerk to call the roll. A quorum was present with six members attending in person. Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.

Chair Isoye stated that members would consider the participation of Dr. Patricia Nugent via video conference due to personal illness. In accordance with the bylaws of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Board may permit a member to participate by other means if they cannot physically attend a meeting because of personal illness.

Dr. Hackett moved that the State Board of Education permit the participation of Dr. Patricia Nugent via video conference. Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Members Present

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Dr. Sherly Chavarria, Secretary

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Judy Hackett

Dr. Patricia Nugent (virtual)

Dr. Jonah Rice

Members Absent

Dr. James Anderson

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Michele Morris, Interim Chief Education Officer – Instruction

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer

Natalie Nash, Interim Executive Director of Communications

Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

Kirsten Parr, Director of Standards & Instruction

2. Public Participation

Chair Isoye reminded those in attendance of the Public Participation Policy and the sign-up procedures for today’s meeting.

Sequoia Williams, a parent from Country Club Hills School District 160, spoke about safety concerns with building and operations in the school district.

Noe Menez, a pastor, spoke on behalf of a parent about concerns with her autistic child. They requested assistance with the school district.

Angela Farwig, vice president of public policy advocacy research at Illinois Action for Children, spoke about concerns with a current proposal to extend the elementary education endorsement, which currently spans Grades

1-6, to include kindergarten. She asked that dialogue from ISBE with educators, partners, experts, and advocates continue through a planned and comprehensive engagement and review process.

Mercedes Mondragon, a policy manager with the Illinois policy team with Start Early, spoke about the decision to expand the elementary education endorsement to include kindergarten. She shared concerns that the grade band expansion would not require additional training, coursework, or field experience in early childhood settings.

Dr. Isoye thanked everyone for being there and participating in public comment. He shared that if anyone had difficulties getting through to provide public comment via phone, they could email their comments to Board Services Coordinator Jo Ireland so that it could be added to the record.

3. Presentation

A. Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233

Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Norrell presented on this item. Dr. Norrell shared she and the school district were pleased to host the October 2025 Board meetings. She was joined by Dr. Lisa Dallacqua, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction; Dr. Clinton Alexander, principal/director of high school programs; and Carla Erdey, director of communications and community engagement. They provided a presentation on the school district and how it is tied to the Board of Education’s Strategic Plan. The first goal they showcased was on Community, Partner and Family Engagement. They shared that Homewood-Flossmoor staff have made deliberate and intentional commitment to strengthening engagement, transparency, and trust to connect with students, families, staff, and community partners. The second Strategic Plan goal shared was for Fiscal Equity and Student Voice. They focused on using student voice to increase exposure to rigorous courses and drive designs for the career-related IB program, integrating with the creation of pathways, and direct facilities designs that foster greater fiscal responsibility and equity. The third Strategic Plan goal was on prioritizing professional excellence through coaching and collaborative teams to empower teachers to be clear about what students are learning. Dr. Norrell thanked the Board of Education for being there and stated the Board is the foundation of the work that they are engaged in to be responsive to the mandates at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

Dr. Sanders thanked Dr. Norrell and her administrative team. He noted the district’s 95% graduation rate and the strong sense of pride in every employee who works in the district. He commented on how the students all feel a sense of belonging and how there were so many different offerings for students. Dr. Sanders complimented Dr. Norrell and her staff on uplifting and growing future leaders across their team.

Ms. Gonzalez commended the staff for their hard work on the great programs they offer and for an amazing tour of their school.

Dr. Chavarria shared her appreciation for the focus on rigor and teacher collaboration as the driver to ensure that rigor is present throughout all of the coursework.

Dr. Leak said the 2025 version of Homewood-Flossmoor is tremendous in terms of the expectation of excellence for every single child, staff member, and the community, and it is not possible to come to this high school as a student and not find your niche. She commended them on not just their IB and AP programs but their career and technical education, scholarships, and expectations. She thanked Dr. Norrell and her staff for their intent, the foresight, and the leadership for this next generation.

Dr. Isoye thanked them for their hospitality and for sharing their facilities on the tour. He noted that the number one thing that stood out to him was the culture that has been built in the district and how many staff and students said good morning or hello without being prompted.

B. Numeracy Plan Update: Draft 1

Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Dr. Ronda Dawson and Director of Standards & Instruction Kirsten Parr presented this item.

Dr. Chavarria asked about the points that may come up during the listening tours. Dr. Dawson shared that the areas that are anticipated to surface are the two different perspectives, one being procedural fluency and automaticity versus conceptual learning.

4. Closed Session

Dr. Leak moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception items:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees; specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting; or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body, or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)).

B. The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussion whether a particular parcel should be acquired. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)

C. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)).

D. Meetings between internal or external auditors and governmental audit committees, finance committees, and their equivalents, when the discussion involves internal control weaknesses, identification of potential fraud risk areas, known or suspected frauds, and fraud interviews conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards of the United States of America. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(29)

She further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 11:50 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 12:19 p.m.

5. Public Participation

There was no further public participation.

6. Consent Agenda

Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the consent agenda.

Dr. Rice moved that the State Board of Education hereby approve the consent agenda.

Dr. Leak seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The following motions were approved by action taken in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes

*Plenary Minutes: September 16-17, 2025

The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the September 16-17, 2025, meeting minutes.

Approvals

*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Upward Amend the Pearson Administration Contract for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to upward amend the Pearson Administration contract for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) to provide math text-to-speech (TTS) as a universal accessibility option and to provide fully accommodated Illinois-aligned practice content for all grades and content areas. The upward amendment will increase the total contract value by $2,664,960 across FYs 2026-30, from $62,175,170 to $64,840,230.

*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Contract Award for Facilitation of an Accountability Technical Advisory Committee

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release and award a five-year contract, with an optional five-year renewal, to a responsive bidder to a competitive procurement for the facilitation

of the state’s accountability Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for an amount not to exceed $3,581,074.00 over the 10-year term of the contract.

*Acceptance Item – State of Illinois Single Audit Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2023

The State Board of Education hereby accepts the Office of the Auditor General’s State of Illinois Single Audit Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2023, as it relates to ISBE.

7. Approval of ISBE Board Protocols

Chair Isoye updated the protocols based on discussions at the September Board Retreat.

Dr. Chavarria moved that the State Board of Education hereby approves the ISBE Board Protocols. Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

8. Approval of ISBE Code of Conduct

Ms. Gonzalez moved that the State Board of Education hereby approves the ISBE Code of Conduct. Dr. Hackett seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

9. Announcements and Reports

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements

Dr. Sanders thanked Homewood-Flossmoor for hosting the Board meeting. He said he had visited Waukegan School District 60 and Taylorville School District 3 and thanked them for hosting him and members of his team. He noted that he had spoken at several events, including the Illinois Democracy Schools, the Illinois Association of School Administrators Conference, the Illinois Association of School Boards Northwest Convening at Winnebago High School, and at the Large Unit District Association Fall Conference. Dr. Sanders shared that ISBE employees came together in Bloomington for the all-agency meeting with a day of professional learning and collaboration. He introduced the Board to Dr. Michele Morris, who is serving as the interim chief education officer for instruction.

There were no senior staff announcements.

Chair of the Board’s Report

Dr. Isoye thanked Dr. Norrell and Dr. Alexander for hosting the Board meeting. He shared that he had met with Dr. Hector Garcia with District 161 at Hinsdale and visited the campuses. He visited with Dr. Judy Hackett at SEDOL and toured three of the facilities. He attended the Central Exchange for NASBE High Quality Instructional Materials meeting and shared he would be attending the NASBE annual conference. Dr. Isoye thanked the staff for their work at the in-person budget hearing on September 30 and noted that the ISBE all-agency meeting was wonderful. He further shared that he was on a panel for Advance Illinois and spoke at Loyola University. He shared that he attended the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools announcement recently and it was very exciting to celebrate schools and see the amazing things that are happening across the state. Dr. Isoye would typically assign a delegate for the NASBE meeting, but since he will be attending, he will assign himself to it. He reminded everyone that there are two more budget hearings that will be held in a virtual format.

Member Reports

Dr. Leak thanked ISBE staff for coordinating the Board meeting at a school district. She appreciated the work behind the scenes to make the meetings run smoothly.

10. Information Items

ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports

Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report

11. Motion for Adjournment

Chair Isoye stated that the next Board meeting will be held on November 20, 2025, in Chicago. Dr. Nugent moved to adjourn the October 15, 2025, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 12:31 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DNE6ZH175B80/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20October%2015%2C%202025.pdf